May 31, 2012 - Acts 24:23

            “He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.”  Acts 24:23.

            In the middle of the adversity and imprisonment he faced, Paul found favor with Felix, the governor of the region.  Normally, prisoners were not afforded any loosening of their confinement, yet Paul was permitted to have his friends care for him.  Paul was awarded this privilege most likely because his life matched his words.  Paul was a person of integrity.  He displayed character that God built into him.  I do not believe that Paul was looking for special treatment from these authorities, yet because of his consistent character, this gift was extended to him.

            Usually, when I go looking for favors, I notice that it seems that people become very scarce.  The act of looking for favors to be done for me tells me that I believe that life is all about me!  It reveals my lack of positive character and projects me as a person who is self-serving and arrogant. 

Paul’s focus was consistently on being true to Jesus, and he was submitted to and fully aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence with him at all times.  This is my desire: to be fully aware of the Spirit’s presence with me and to humbly submit to His guidance.  As Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before men that they might see your good works and glorify God.”

            Questions to consider: What indications are happening around you that might reveal your character and integrity before God?  Are you fully aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence in you?  How important is it that you know that the Spirit is within you?

            Prayer: Father, it is my desire to be fully aware of Your Spirit’s presence, and I submit myself to You in a fresh way.  Thank You that You have promised in Your Word that You will supply the power to walk it out.  Amen.

May 24, 2012 - Luke 9:24

            “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it.”  Luke 9:24

            For the longest time, I thought that in this verse Jesus’ main focus was on getting us to heaven; to get us saved – in other words, if I lose my life for His sake, I will live forever in heaven.  The main focus was on going to heaven instead of going to hell, because I had a self-centered desire to be saved.  While eternal life is a legitimate goal, I no longer think that this was Jesus’ intent.  I believe that Jesus was, and still is, looking for people willing to die for something much bigger than themselves - people who were willing to lose their lives for the greater purposes of the kingdom of God.  He taught His disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven.”  Jesus was leading a full-frontal assault on the dark powers of this world, and He was, and is, looking for people who are willing to lose it all for His purposes.

            It is only when I deal with my fear of death that I really begin to live -  what good is it if I am only living for my own purposes and not the bigger purposes of bringing God’s kingdom to my world?  God is not interested in keeping me safe.  He is more interested in keeping me from a life that is meaningless.  God desires for me to be involved. Committed. All-in.  He desires for me to be willing to put my life on the line for the kingdom of God.  How about you?  Paul said it this way; “I have been crucified with Christ: it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  (Galatians 2:20)*

            Questions to consider: Who are you living for….who are you really living for?  If you are a Christian, how have you “been crucified with Christ?”  What are you doing to lose your life for Jesus’ sake, and in that way, advance the kingdom of light in the darkness around you?

            Prayer: Father, may Your kingdom come, here on earth, as it is in heaven.  Help me to be an agent for change in the world You have given me to live in.  Amen.

May 17, 2012 - Acts 24:5

            “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world.  He is the ringleader of the Nazarene sect.”  Acts 24:5.

            Paul was in Caesarea on trial before the governor, whose name is Felix.  The Jewish high priest, Ananias, appeared at the trial along with several leaders and a lawyer, named Tertullus, who was to plead their case against Paul.  Paul was brought in before Felix and Tertullus began his prosecution.  Tertullus started his accusations, saying that Paul was the cause of many disturbances and riots among the Jews who were located all around the Roman Empire.  Yet when we consider the result of these disturbances and “riots”, it all seems worth it.  Thousands came to know Jesus in a personal way through Paul’s work among them.

            Sometimes, I feel as though life for me is just too nice and calm.  By that I mean that I am not doing much to bring the kingdom of God to the world around me.  A sign to me that I am not doing enough is that there is not enough “stirring up” of the kingdom of darkness.  If I am not under attack in some way, it could very well mean that I am not doing much to disturb the darkness.  Paul shook up the darkness wherever he went.  There were riots and all kinds of disturbances, and many people were converted from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God.  I want to shake up my world for Jesus’ sake!  How about you?  Let’s create a disturbance for Jesus’ sake!

            Questions to consider: If it was illegal to be a Christ follower, would there be enough evidence to convict you?  Are you doing anything to shake up the world around you for the kingdom of God?  If so, what’s happening?  If not, why not?

            Prayer: Father, give me a fire in my soul that would cause me to disturb the kingdom of darkness around me, so that the Holy Spirit would draw many to Your kingdom.  May Your kingdom come, here in my part of the world.  Amen.

Thursday Thought - May 10, 2012

             “Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, ‘Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.’”  Acts 23:23.

            The Roman commander became aware of a plot to kill Paul, who was now under the commander’s care.  Without having to do anything, safe passage from Jerusalem to Caesarea was provided for Paul.  With this amount of protection, it would have taken an army of men to get at Paul in order to kill him.  God had provided protection so that Paul would be assured of doing everything that God called him to do.  Paul was keenly aware of God’s sovereign protection.

            Sometimes it is difficult for me to believe that God is so personally involved with me that He actually is concerned about my daily protection.  I wonder if there have been times when something really bad was going to happen to me, and God intervened in some way that literally saved my life.  I half-jokingly have said that I know there are a few angels around me that have singed wings, bruises and sore spots all over from the times they have protected me, without my awareness.  As I sit here today, I am fully confident that God has a purpose for me, and as long as that is present, He will provide the care and protection I need to work towards fulfilling that purpose.  Paul knew that he was to go to Rome, and nothing was going to stand in his way.

            Questions to consider: Where are you on the spectrum of having confidence in God’s care for your life?  Please think about this and don’t just give the correct, religious answer.  Be real with God about this.  Do you believe that God really cares for you personally?  How in tune are you to God’s purposes for your life?

            Prayer: Father, there are times when I wonder if You are there, and in those times, help me to remember when I was fully aware of Your presence and protection.  Help me to remember that I am Your child and that You love me wholeheartedly.  Amen.

May 3, 2012 - Acts 23:22

            “The commander dismissed the young man and cautioned him, ‘Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.’”  Acts 23:22.

            There was a secret plot by some zealots who made a pact to not eat or drink until Paul was killed.  This plot was overheard by a young man, who immediately went to the commander of the Roman guard to warn him of the imminent killing.  The commander exhorted the young man to keep completely silent about this report, as he didn’t want word of the plot to escape.  Was it a coincidence that this young man was in a location in which he could hear of the plot without being seen?  While the young man was there for a different reason, God had him there for His reason.  Being at the right place at the right time for the right reason can be significantly rewarding.  Certainly for Paul, this was true.  This young man was used to save his life while placing his own on the line.

            These threats to Paul’s life sound somewhat abstract to me.  It is hard for me to really understand this, as I don’t believe that my life has ever been threatened because of my belief in Jesus.  Yet, I believe that part of the adventure God has called me to involves not holding onto the reins of my life too tightly.  I believe God has called me to move out of the safe confines of my religious circles and to be dependent upon the Holy Spirit to direct me while I negotiate this risky world we live in.  This young man demonstrates that kind of boldness, as does Paul.  This anonymous young man placed his own life in jeopardy in order to save Paul’s.

            Questions to consider: Are you getting bored or frustrated by staying safely in your religious circle?  If so, how do you sense God is leading you to join the risky adventure of truly following His Holy Spirit?  Are you still holding onto the reins of your life too tightly?  How do you let them go, and surrender yourself into God’s hands?

            Prayer: Father, it is a frightening thing to release my life into Your hands.  Yet, I’ve seen, time and again, examples of people whom You have used in wonderful ways, and I desire that for myself.  Please help me to make that step, and to continue to make that step, to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow You.  Amen.